ANALYSIS—By the time thousands of people gather at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona this coming Sunday, Sept. 21 to celebrate the life of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk—President Trump said he will attend—two alarming, but perhaps unsurprising, things will be permanently burned into the American psyche.
First, the vile core of the political left has emerged for the entire world to witness, and for a number of people who now find themselves unemployed as a result of their own lack of self-control, it is impossible to retract. And some Democrats are already talking gun control without explaining what laws would have prevented Kirk’s slaying, a fact that has not gone unnoticed by podcasters and other “influencers.”
Second, once again the establishment media’s lack of firearms knowledge was in the spotlight. Until last week, most—if not all—of the talking network heads had probably never heard of a Mauser 98, a bolt-action rifle of such reliable design that Mauser notes on its own website, “The MAUSER 98 action is regarded as the forefather of all modern bolt action rifles. Built in the millions, copied in the thousands, never matched.” Until now, they’ve been content to demonize semi-auto AR-type rifles, chambered for the “powerful” .223 Remington, a varmint cartridge. Now they have a new firearm to denigrate.
Early in the coverage of Kirk’s assassination in front of an estimated crowd of about 3,000 people, it was reported that the rifle used in this crime was a bolt-action .30-06, which seemed to confuse some of the network talking heads. The Mauser 98, originally chambered for the 8×57 Mauser cartridge, offered a bolt face which was immediately adaptable to domestic calibers because the cartridge base shares the same 0.473-inch diameter as the ’06 and various other popular American big game hunting calibers including, but not limited to, the .308 Winchester, .257 Roberts, .284 Winchester, .300 Savage, and so forth. Countless Mauser 98 actions were simply re-barreled and adapted to North American hunting calibers. Compared to the .223 Remington/5.56mm for which most modern semi-auto rifles are chambered, well, the big game calibers are “high powered.”
The media initially relied on some “experts” who declared that the estimated 200-yard shot had to have been fired by someone with special training. That continued until outdoorsmen and women, especially those living west of the Mississippi River, made it clear that 200-yard shots with a .30-06 rifle are commonly made every fall on deer, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, caribou and other big game.
A single shot, fired from a rifle that was not a “semiautomatic assault rifle,” just didn’t fit the narrative. News anchors seemed a bit perplexed. Writing at the National Review, Charles C.W. Cooke observed, “This ought to end all attempts to blame Kirk’s murder on America’s gun laws — or, worse, on Kirk’s support of the Second Amendment. The ‘older-model .30 caliber hunting rifle’ is the go-to example that gun-control activists give when asked which weapons they do not want to ban.”
The video showing Kirk being hit, and blood rushing from his neck wound, led most experienced hunters to quickly conclude—as did forensic specialist Joseph Scott Morgan at Jacksonville State University, quoted by ABC News—that the wound was “catastrophic and likely unsurvivable.”
There was even some online speculation about the wound, which is how conspiracy theories are born.
Overshadowing any such speculation has been the reaction from so many on the left, which has included cheering and otherwise celebrating Kirk’s death. Such remarks in various social media have resulted in a backlash that has included job loss or suspension and, in the case of elected officials, calls for resignation from public office.
Among those attacking the murdered conservative activist was Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN). According to the Western Journal, “Just one day following his death, Omar accused Kirk on “Zeteo” of being insensitive to school shootings, the death of George Floyd, and slavery. She denied the notion that Kirk helped bring civil political discussion on college campuses by openly debating those he disagreed with.”
In Florida, as reported by MSN, Palmetto Bay City Councilman Steve Cody was called out for remarks he made: “Charlie Kirk is a fitting sacrifice to our Lords: Smith & Wesson. Hallowed be their names.” The Facebook post was deleted, MSN reported, but there are calls on Cody to resign, which he reportedly said he will not do.
In Ohio, a Hamilton County judge has been removed from the Joe Burrow Foundation, according to WXIX News, for allegedly posting comments including “Rest in Hatred & Division.” There are calls for him to resign from the bench.
When Everytown for Gun Safety posted a message on its Facebook page about Kirk’s slaying, reactions from some people underscored the Left’s visceral hatred. One man wrote, “Oh, the irony…thoughts and prayers. In hindsight maybe Charlie would now be thinking…tighter gun control, not such a bad thing.” Another stated, “He deserved it.” One woman sarcastically stated, “Ah, here’s some New Age made up empathy for ya Charlie. Thoughts and prayers.”
Seattle’s KOMO is reporting about a guy in Boise, Idaho who was arrested after riding a bicycle into a crowd quietly honoring Kirk’s memory, and yelling “F— Charlie Kirk!” It earned him a punch in the face. When he was arrested, according to the report, police found him in possession of a handgun and marijuana.
Reaction on the Left got so distasteful that Newsweek reported British commentator Piers Morgan’s observation on “X” which said, “Seeing so many clips/posts of supposedly ‘kind tolerant’ liberals gleefully celebrating Charlie Kirk’s murder. They’re so utterly disgusting.”
How long will it take for perennial anti-gunners to call for more restrictions? Not long, according to John Lott, founder and CEO at the Crime Prevention Research Center. Indeed, as he writes here, they didn’t wait, at all.
However, pay close attention during the weeks and months ahead. At some point, do not be surprised if there is a push to restrict possession of “sniper rifles” chambered for “powerful” cartridges, with telescopic sights. Be less surprised if the proposal comes from someone with a “D” next to their name.
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About Dave Workman
Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.
